Want to know more, check out our FAQ for answers to common questions!

Economic activity in the Iowa Lakes Corridor region is fueled by business investment, workforce participation, and community teamwork. The area covers Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, and Emmet counties in northwest Iowa. Local employers work in advanced manufacturing, agriculture, food processing, healthcare, and tourism.

Regional partners work together to support business growth, workforce development, and entrepreneurship. They focus on employer outreach, workforce training, and local incentive programs. The aim is steady job growth and stable business expansion throughout the region.

The Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation is a regional economic development organization serving Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, and Emmet counties. It supports business growth, investment, and employers across the region.

Over 80 public and private investors, such as local governments, utilities, businesses, and regional groups, fund the organization. It operates as a 501(c)(6) nonprofit.

The board includes 16 directors, with four representatives from each county in the region.

The Iowa Lakes Corridor offers direct help to companies looking to start, grow, or move to the region. Staff members work with employers, developers, and entrepreneurs to find resources that support business growth.

Services include:

• Site and building searches
• Workforce data and labor market analysis
• Introductions to local and state partners
• Guidance on incentive programs
• Business retention and expansion outreach

The organization works with local economic development groups, cities, and state agencies to coordinate business support.

The Iowa Lakes Corridor has a wide range of industries. Manufacturing, agriculture, and food processing are especially important for local jobs.

Major industry sectors include:

• Advanced manufacturing
• Food processing and agricultural production
• Healthcare services
• Tourism and recreation
• Logistics and distribution

Storm Lake, Spencer, Spirit Lake, and Estherville are key employment centers. Each city supports nearby communities and drives workforce activity in the region.

Employers often hire workers from all four counties and the surrounding areas.

The Iowa Lakes Corridor has a regional workforce that supports manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, and service industries. A Laborshed study with Iowa Workforce Development provides workforce data.

Key findings from the 2025 Laborshed analysis include:

• Total potential labor force of 121,803 workers
• 1,136 survey responses from residents ages 18 to 64
• Regional commuting patterns were analyzed using employer zip code data.

Researchers gathered data using geographic mapping and phone surveys. The study looks at worker supply, commuting patterns, and employment interest.

Estherville, Spencer, Spirit Lake, and Storm Lake are workforce hubs in the region.

Keeping and growing local businesses drives regional economic growth. The Iowa Lakes Corridor leads these efforts with the GROWTH program.

GROWTH stands for:

• Gather
• Relationships
• Opportunities
• Wins
• Trends
• Home

Each year, staff talk with employers to learn about workforce needs, expansion plans, infrastructure, and industry trends.

The program’s data helps with local planning and statewide analysis. In 2025, businesses in the Corridor region contributed 13 percent of all business retention and expansion data collected in Iowa.

Entrepreneurs in the Iowa Lakes Corridor can use several regional programs that offer training, mentorship, and technical support.

Key resources include:

• Iowa Small Business Development Center
• IASourceLink business support network
• Regional coworking spaces
• Mentorship from experienced business professionals

The Corridor team works with startup founders to find the best support organizations. These partners help with business planning, financing, and market research. Entrepreneurs can join training programs and local networking events.

Several coworking spaces in the region support entrepreneurs, remote workers, and small teams. These places offer shared office space and chances to network. Coworking locations include:

The Foundry

Storm Lake, Iowa

• Located in downtown Storm Lake
• Operated by Buena Vista University’s Lamberti Center for Rural Entrepreneurship
• Provides workspaces, mentoring, and startup resources
   

Studio 12

Estherville, Iowa

• Shared workspace for entrepreneurs and remote workers
• Focus on business collaboration and startup support
   

Spencer Collaborative

Spencer, Iowa

• Flexible workspace with shared offices and meeting areas
• Designed for freelancers, professionals, and small businesses
   

These spaces help lower startup costs and encourage business owners to work together.

The Okoboji Entrepreneurial Institute runs a program where students get hands-on experience in entrepreneurship. The program brings college students from all over Iowa to the region. It supports entrepreneurship through:

• Business pitch coaching and competition
• Seminars led by entrepreneurs and executives
• Mentorship and networking opportunities

Students come from universities and colleges across Iowa. These include Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa, Buena Vista University, Dordt University, and Iowa Lakes Community College.

Each student may earn up to 3 academic credit hours upon completing the program. Since the program started, almost 600 students have graduated from the institute.

The Homegrown Talent Initiative encourages college graduates to come back and build their careers in the region. The program gives financial grants to graduates who take jobs in the area.

Grant details include:

• Total grant value of $6,000
• Paid as $1,500 per year for four years
• Funds may support student loan repayment, housing costs, or childcare

To qualify, graduates must have grown up in Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, or Emmet counties and return to work for a local employer.

Businesses in the Iowa Lakes Corridor may be eligible for local, state, and federal incentive programs. Eligibility depends on project size, industry, and job creation plans.

Examples include:

• Local property tax abatements
• State workforce training assistance
• Infrastructure support for development projects
• Workforce Housing Tax Credits for housing development

The Corridor team helps businesses determine which incentives best fit their projects.

The Iowa Lakes Corridor covers cities and towns in four counties in northwest Iowa.

Major communities include:
 

Buena Vista County

• Storm Lake (County Seat)
• Alta
• Sioux Rapids
• Albert City
• Lakeside
• Linn Grove
• Marathon
• Newell
• Rembrandt
• Truesdale
   

Clay County

• Spencer (County Seat)
• Dickens
• Everly
• Fostoria
• Gillett Grove
• Greenville
• Peterson
• Rossie
• Royal
• Webb
   

Dickinson County

• Spirit Lake (County Seat)
• Arnolds Park
• Lake Park
• Milford
• Okoboji
• Terril
• Wahpeton
• West Okoboji
   

Emmet County

• Estherville (County Seat)
• Armstrong
• Dolliver
• Gruver
• Ringsted
• Wallingford

Businesses, developers, and entrepreneurs can reach out to the Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation for help with projects in the region.

Contact information:  
Iowa Lakes Corridor Development Corporation  
520 2nd Avenue East, Suite 2  
Spencer, Iowa 51301 

Phone: 712.264.3474  
Toll Free: 800.765.1428 
Email: info@lakescorridor.com 

The team can answer questions about site selection, workforce data, incentives, and business resources. Businesses thinking about expanding or moving to northwest Iowa can start the conversation through the Spencer office.